Who’s the greatest football player in Aggies history?

The case for: Nastiness and tenacity in the trenches seemed to define Adams’ (a.k.a. Man Mountain) three years as a starter for the Aggies. He was first-team All-Southwest Conference in 1992 after recording 56 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks. But Adams’ most productive season was his junior year when he led the Aggies in tackles for loss (13), sacks (10 1/2), forced fumbles (5) and fumble recoveries (3) while coming up with 78 stops along the defensive line. Adams, also a track star, was inducted into the A&M Hall of Fame in 2001 to honor a career in which he finished with 169 tackles (23 for loss), 20 1/2 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two interceptions.

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Ray Childress, defensive tackle (1981-84)

The case for: Childress was one of the most feared and productive defensive linemen in school history. Childress anchored the 1984 A&M defense that ranked fifth nationally against the pass, recording 124 tackles and 10 sacks his senior season. He is one of two defensive linemen to ever lead the Aggies in tackles for a season, recording 117 off the edge in 1983. A two-time All-American, Childress still ranks fifth all-time at A&M in career tackles (360) and sacks (25).

John David Crow, running back (1955-57)

The case for: One of the true legends in Texas football history, Crow came to exemplify the toughness and grit that Texas A&M football is all about. Crow became the Aggies’ only Heisman Trophy winner in 1957 while lifting the Aggies to a No.1 ranking that same season after they won their first eight games. With his senior season cut short due to injury, the versatile back rushed for 562 yards and six touchdowns on 129 carries, while also passing for five touchdowns and recording six interceptions on defense. He finished his A&M career with 1,465 rushing yards.

Aaron Glenn, defensive back (1992-93)

The case for: While his A&M career was brief, Glenn’s two-year impact in the secondary was close to off-the -chart. Glenn was a two-time All-Southwest Conference and two-time All-American pick. His 20 pass breakups in 1992 remains an A&M best, while his career totals for pass breakups (33), intereceptions (9) and 95-yard return for a touchdown against Texas in 1992 remain in the record books.

Jacob Green, defensive lineman (1977-79)

The case for: Green caused many opposing quarterbacks to have nightmares before they faced A&M. There weren’t many defensive ends more menacing than Green, whose 20 sacks in 1979 remains an A&M single-season record. His 37 career sacks stood as an A&M standard for a decade before Aaron Wallace recorded 42 from 1986-89. Bur Green’s only strength wasn’t sacking quarterbacks; he also created turnovers. His 12 career fumbles caused — including six during the 1978 season — remain at the top of the school’s record book. An All-American and two-time All-SWC performer, Green was named to the SWC’s All-Decade team for the 1970s.

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Lester Hayes, free safety (1973-76)

The case for: Known best as the stick’em Hall of Fame cornerback for the Oakland Raiders, Hayes made his mark as a ball-hawk free safety for the Aggies. His 14 career interceptions is second on the A&M all-time list, while Hayes’ eight picks during his senior year in 1976 still ranks third.

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Johnny Holland, linebacker (1983-86)

The case for: A key member of the Aggies’ vaunted Wrecking Crew, Holland led A&M in tackles in 1984 (155) and 1986 (147). He left A&M as the school’s all-time leading tackler with 455 stops before Dat Nguyen broke the record in the 90s. He twice recorded 20 or more tackles in a game during his career, coming up with 22 stops against Alabama in 1985 and 20 against Southern Miss in 1986. Holland, who went on to a spectacular pro career, was enshrined in the school’s Hall of Fame in 1993 and the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2000.

Jarrin’ John Kimbrough, running back (1938-40).The case for: The case for: Kimbrough was a team captain of A&M’s lone national champion.

Darren Lewis, running back (1987-90)

The case for: Lewis, who was known as Tank, was the very definition of an outstanding back during his A&M days, finishing with a Southwest Conference record 5,012 yards on the ground — one of just five players in NCAA history to eclipse 5,000 yards rushing in a career. He owns the top two single-season rushing performances in school history, gaining 1,692 yards in 1988 and 1,691 in 1990. Lewis, who finished eighth in Heisman Trophy voting after leading the nation in rushing in 1990, also left A&M with school records for rushing attempts in a (306), career rushes (909) and career touchdowns (44). He was an All-American from 1988-90 and was twice named to the All-SWC squad.

Dat Nguyen, linebacker (1995-98)

The case for: Once known as “Fat” Nguyen during his freshman year at A&M, Dat is now known as the very definition of a hard-nosed and hard-hitting A&M linebacker. The muscular 5-11, 238-pound linebacker packed a ferocious punch during his A&M career, leaving the program with numbers that will be hard to duplicate. The Lombardi and Bednarik Award winner remains the Aggies career tackles leader with 517. He also holds the record for consecutive starts (51) and average tackles per game (10.7). Nguyen, who became the first Vietnamese American to play in the NFL, led the Aggies in tackles for four straight years.

Jack Pardee, fullback (1954-57)

The case for: A hard-nose player on both sides of the football. Remains among school’s top career rushers with 1,017 yards. A key member of Bear Bryant’s Junction Boys.

Ed Simonini, linebacker (1972-75)

The case for: The Heart and Soul of the Aggies 1975 team that was in contention for the national title. Led team in tackles three straight years and remains fourth on career tackles list.

Pre-1939: Joel Hunt- terrific all around athlete, set Ag and SWC season scoring and TD records in 1928- the year TAMU may have had the nation’s best team (may have- it’s hard to relate SWC teams from that era to the traditional northern powers). He was a phenomenal athlete in several sports, and just the kind of player who would be a star in today’s game.

Gotta mention Bucky Richardson in there somewhere. Not the outstanding physical talent of the men that are mentioned – which is probably why the Chron didn’t put him in the mix. But I’d put his heart, drive, and desire to win up against anybody – Aggie or not. Just ask Notre Dame in the Cotton Bowl. Ask t.u. for the seasons that Bucky played them. He had outstanding talent around him – but he mentally pulled them up by their boot straps on numerous games. His mentality was whatever it takes to win, just get it done.